VESTAL, NY - The NJIT baseball team opened its 24-game America East Conference schedule on Friday, falling 8-1 to host Binghamton in the first of three games this weekend at the Bearcats Baseball Facility.
Binghamton got on the scoreboard first with a pair of unearned runs in the second inning, taking advantage of three walks, an infield single, and an error.
Ray Ortiz's second home run of the season put the Highlanders on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning and made it a one-run game.
Binghamton immediately answered with another unearned run in the home half of the fourth, before scoring a pair of runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to make it 7-1. The Bearcats added a final run in the eighth.
Aidan Kidd started on the mound for NJIT and struck out seven over four innings.
Croix Jenkins was the final of four NJIT pitchers on Friday and didn't allow a run in 1.2 innings of work.
Ty Sallie had two of the Highlanders six hits to pace the offense.
NJIT will look to even the series on Saturday when the teams return to the diamond for a 2pm game.
